Journeys of Invention Review

The Science Museum in London is a fantastic place to visit if you're interested in the history of technology, but if you’re in the States or elsewhere, the chances of seeing the exhibits contained therein may be rather remote. That’s precisely why Journeys of Invention from Touch Press is such a great resource, as it allows you to learn about and interact with objects that are on display in that museum, plus others stored in its repository that aren’t even viewable by members of the public.

Journeys of Invention features 81 objects — like the Apollo 10 command module, or a 17th-century microscope — along with 14 compiled journeys that link them through a logical progression. You can zoom in to any object and hear a sound associated with it, and then tap on it to read a brief description along with some historical context. You can also rotate objects at will; some even have annotations that appear, depending on the object's orientation. It would’ve been nice to have links out to the web for more extensive information, though, for those still captivated beyond the imagery.

You can explore on your own or follow the set journeys, but even the latter is an entirely flexible experience: at the end of each description, you’re given the option to carry on or perhaps move on to a different, but relevant journey instead. Once a journey is over, you’re also offered the choice to progress to a new one without having to go back to the main menu. The level of interaction is amazing, and you can do things that you wouldn't be able to do with actual museum exhibits, like work the Enigma machine to view secret messages, or step inside the Apollo 10 capsule as if it were still floating in space.

The app itself is initially free, but only offers one journey along with a handful of objects to explore — a second journey becomes available once you register via Facebook or email, or you can simply gain access to the whole experience for a one-time sum of $9.99 within. The Science Museum may not charge for entry, but unless you’re in close proximity, the app is certainly a lot cheaper — and much more convenient — than a trip to London.

The bottom line. Journeys of Invention is a great interactive learning tool that is beautifully designed to take advantage of the iPad screen. While perhaps not as rich in information as it is interactivity, it should keep users of all ages informed and entertained for a good long while.